H.—3l

98

The following was undertaken at the instance of the Department:—.

Sanitary Inspection. As I anticipated, after a short experience in my former district of the adoption by the Hamilton and Cambridge Boroughs of the powers given by section 16 of " The Public Health Amendment Act, 1903 " —by which, in lieu of appointing their own Inspector of Nuisances, they are enabled to contribute to the salary of an Inspector appointed under " The Public Health Act, 1900 " —I cannot speak too highly of the advantages reaped by the contributing local authorities, the public generally, and this Department by the wider adoption of this system in this district in the past years. With increased experience day by day, I feel sure it would be a retrograde step to in any way discourage, or, indeed, not to encourage, the contributing system. A special report on the general administration of sanitary inspection was put before you. The table below sets out the amount of contribution agreed upon towards the services of the various district Inspectors : — Local Authorities Annual Contributions to Salaries of Inspectors (Section 16, " Public Health Amendment Act, 1903 "). Inspector Gardiner, — £ s. d. £ s. d. Inglewood Borough Council ... ... ... 15 0 0 Waitara Borough Council ... ... ... 10 0 0 Stratford Borough Council ... ... ... 30 8 0 Eltham County Council ... ... ... 20 0 0 Eltham Borough Council ... ... ... 15 5 0 90 13 0 Inspector Sargeant,— Waitotara County Council ... ... ... 30 0 0 Wanganui Borough Council ... ... ... 90 0 0 Purua Road Board ... ... ... ... 700 127 0 0 Inspector Wilson, — Rangitikei County Council ... ... ... 100 0 0 Marton Borough Council ... ... ... 30 0 0 Kiwitea County Council ... ... ... 42 13 0 172 13 0 Inspector O'Brien, — Feilding Borough Council ... ... ... 34 9 5 Pohangina County Council ... ... ... 23 0 9 Levin Borough Council ... ... ... 2500 82 10 2 Inspector Hickes, — Pahiatua Borough Council ... ... ... 30 0 0 Eketahuna Borough Council ... ... ... 1000 Mauriceville County Council .:. ... ... 11 5 5 Masterton County Council ... ... ... 31 4 7 Eketahuna County Council ... ... ... 1210 0 ■ 95 0 0 Inspector Miller, — South Wairarapa County Council ... ... 25 0 0 Carterton Borough Council ... ... ... 18 1 6 Featherston County Council ... ... ... 22 13 5 Greytown Borough Council ... ... ... 1616 2 82 11 1 Total ... ... ... ... ... 650 7 3 The Taranaki County Council has expressed a desire to take advantage of the system, and the question is about to be considered by the Pahiatua County Council and the Waverley Town Board. Inspector Hickes is the latest of the Inspectors to be intrusted with charge of a district, and already his unremitting energy and extensive knowledge have gained him much praise. Under the subsidising system individual small sums have been paid towards the salary of the Sanitary Inspectors of the Palmerston North, Masterton, and Hawera Borough Councils. The following list shows the very large amount of work done by the Inspectors this year. Accurate figures are possible since the introduction of the monthly-report forms by Dr. Makgill. Inspections re complaints, 641; infectious diseases, 1,313; food-shops, 2,832; houses, 5,700; miscellaneous, 4,860: total, 15,346.

No. i)ate. Particulars. Result. 1. 1907. Deo. 11 By Corporation (failing to demolish con- Order from Court to pull down within three years, demned building). (Judgment was ar- '"■ and meanwhile extensive alterations to be made, rived at by agreement between parties to the Department's and Council's satisfaction, concerned)